Global Alliance & WHO QualityRights initiative collaborate to bolster mental health as industry faces mounting pressures in health & wellbeing report
The Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management (Global Alliance) has announced a collaboration with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) QualityRights initiative, reinforcing its 2025 commitment to advancing mental health and wellbeing in the public relations and communication industry.
As January’s Health & Wellbeing Month concludes, Global Alliance will host a free global webinar on 30 January, open to all Public Relations and Communication professionals. The event will mark the release of the Global Alliance How We Are Working Mental Health and Wellbeing Snapshot Report (Snapshot report), highlighting critical challenges and the need for systemic change.
The Snapshot report provides a strong indicator of mental health challenges within the Public Relations and Communication profession, though it does not yet represent a comprehensive global picture. Key findings drawn from industry research include:
• 78% of Public Relations professionals report high stress, with 46% noting worsening mental health in the past year.
• 64% say their organisations lack adequate mental health support.
• Only 32% feel comfortable discussing mental health at work.
• More than 50% cite unrealistic deadlines, client demands, and poor work-life balance as key stressors.
As industry demands grow, so does the mental strain on individuals and teams, making structured mental health support essential.
In addition to prevailing workplace practices and cultural challenges, the rise of AI introduces immediate shifts in professional workflows. While AI disrupts traditional work models, it also enhances efficiency by managing high-volume tasks, allowing professionals to concentrate on strategic decision-making and critical analysis—fundamental to public relations and communication management. Simultaneously, as misinformation and disinformation proliferate, the industry is under increasing pressure to uphold ethical communication and harness AI to promote transparency and credibility.
To address this, the Global Alliance is committed to establishing a global benchmark for measuring and reporting mental health in Public Relations, ensuring consistent, industry-wide progress.
2025 galvanises Global Alliances’ commitment to deliver accessible, easy to adopt and use training and resources.
Through its collaboration with WHO’s QualityRights initiative, the Global Alliance will support Public Relations and Communication professionals with promotion to access:
• WHO QualityRights self-guided e-training available in 11 languages with a specific human rights lens.
• Global Alliance led promotion and access to guidance on workplace mental health policies and leadership-driven culture change.
• A framework to embed mental health as an industry priority.
Professor Justin Green, Global Alliance President and CEO, emphasised the organisation’s 2025 commitment:
“Public Relations professionals are facing unprecedented challenges, as our Snapshot Report confirms. We must act now to ensure mental health is recognised and addressed across the industry. Our collaboration with WHO QualityRights is a major step forward, and in 2025, Global Alliance is committed to setting a global benchmark and supporting our members to advance this commitment, ensuring real progress.”
January’s Health & Wellbeing Month has brought Public Relations professionals together worldwide to discuss mental health, resilience, and workplace wellbeing. Jennifer Muir, Chair of Health & Wellbeing Month and Global Alliance Board Member, stressed the need for action:
“The pressures on our industry are not just increasing—they’re unsustainable. We can’t afford to treat mental health as an afterthought or a personal burden; it must be a collective priority. The limited data we have tells us a compelling story: too many PR professionals are experiencing burnout, stress, and inadequate workplace support.
We need more than just awareness—we need tangible action. That means breaking down the stigma, integrating real support systems into the fabric of our industry, and ensuring that mental health resources are accessible to every professional, everywhere. Through this global collaboration, we are moving beyond conversation and taking the necessary steps to create lasting change.”
Final Webinar – 30 January - The Health & Wellbeing Month global webinar on 30 January will:
• Launch the Global Alliance Snapshot Report.
• Introduce the WHO QualityRights collaboration and resources.
• Feature industry leaders discussing mental health best practices.
• Provide a forum for PR professionals to exchange challenges and solutions.
Register Now: https://www.globalalliancepr.org/mental-health-perspectives-personal-local-global
A Global Call to Action - As Global Alliance moves into 2025, it urges Public Relations professionals, agencies, and organisations worldwide to unite in prioritising mental health and wellbeing. With the WHO QualityRights collaboration, global benchmarking, and continued engagement, Global Alliance is driving industry-wide change to ensure a healthier, more sustainable profession.
For more details on the Snapshot Report, WHO QualityRights collaboration, and Health & Wellbeing Month, visit https://www.globalalliancepr.org/health-wellbeing-month